From July 27th to July 30th, the Prep Baseball Report staff hosted the PBR Future Games at the state-of-the-art LakePoint Sports Complex in Emerson, Georgia.

This one-of-a-kind event featured the best uncommitted Class of 2024 prospects and select 2025 prospects from our 40-plus state coverage area and Canada. In years past, more than 330 college coaches from all over the country were in attendance.

Team Missouri had one of the event's top showings, posting a 2-1 record throughout the week while playing against consistent high-end uncommitted talent across the country. The accolades for Team Missouri have continued rolling in after the event, with a member of the squad capturing Future Games MVP honors and several players already committing, too.

Today, our staff sat down with C Xander Schmitt (Lafayette, 2024), who became the first player in Team Missouri history to earn Future Games MVP honors. Schmitt erupted at the Future Games, going 7-for-7 over three games with four doubles, two walks, and five stolen bases. He put together a highly impressive workout the day prior to games starting, running a 6.9 60, blasting balls upwards of 100 mph, and popping in the 1.88-to-1.95 range. Shortly after the event, Schmitt committed to Kansas and rose up to No. 13 overall on our state's 2024 board, slotting inside the top-500 nationally as well.

We sat down with Schmitt and spoke about several things related to the Future Games, including his experience at the event, among other topics. You'll find that conversation below.

 

OUR Q&A

PBR: What did you think about the Future Games coming into the event? Had you heard anything about the event prior to attending?

Schmitt: Coming to the Future Games was something that I have always wanted to do. I first heard about it in 7th grade when I got invited to the Junior Future Games, and seeing all of the older guys really made me want to get invited back for the Future Games.

P: Describe your experience at LakePoint for the Future Games. What was it like to compete against top-end talent from across the country in an atmosphere that featured so many college coaches?

S: Competing against the best of the best is something amazing to me. It was really life changing and made me a better person and a better athlete. I loved being able to play against all of those guys - some you are going to be hearing their names for a long time.

P: What was it like to represent the state of Missouri at this event?

S: Being able to represent Missouri at the Future Games was amazing. We had a great team to go along with great coaches, and we really went out there and played some of the best baseball a team could for not really knowing everyone on the team.

P: What was the outreach of schools like for you after you attended the Future Games?

S: It was a bit overwhelming but super life changing. Two-to-three weeks I was just getting calls from colleges and that was something that changed the way I looked at my baseball career.

P: Do you have a memorable moment from the Future Games? Is there a certain game, play, performance milestone, etc. that you specifically remember?

S: It was the first game of the Future Games, and I was just trying to get all of my nerves out and just really perform at the plate and that’s what I did. I hit a ground rule double in my second at bat and that was something pretty cool. In the second game, I'm pretty sure it was either to end the game or just one of the innings, I back picked a kid at first and it brought a lot of attention to our game and lots of energy in the dugout.

P: Which players on Team Missouri, in particular, stood out to you throughout the event?

S: There were a lot of players who stood out during the whole event. You had LHP Brady Kehlenbrink (Parkway South, 2024), RHP John-Paul Sauer (Jackson, 2024; Tulane commit) and INF Grant Hollister (Blue Springs South, 2024; Michigan). Basically the whole team, but those guys really showed out during the whole event.

P: Congratulations on your commitment! What led you to committing to your eventual school and is there anything about the coaching staff, program, etc in particular.

S: Thank you so much, but the main thing really for me was the coaches and if it felt like a home when I was on my visit. Just being there was something that I really wanted but right as I got to Kansas I just knew I wanted to be a Jayhawk. It was really special when I got to text and call the coaches to let them all know I would be a Jayhawk.

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